GEORGETOWN, Texas – Colorado College defended its men's cross country conference crown with a four-point victory over Trinity University Saturday morning on the campus of Southwestern University. The margin was the second-closest in the history of the men's championship meet. Team Results | Individual Results | Official Website | Facebook Photo Album | Interview with Colorado College Head Coach Alex Nichols | Interview with SCAC Runner of the Year James Settles | Interview with SCAC Newcomer of the Year Joe Bullock
Paced by junior James Settles, who earned Runner-of-the-Year honors with the the 13th fastest time in championships history (25:23.60), Colorado College nipped Trinity 31-35, the tightest finish at the men's event since Trinity defeated Colorado College by one point in 2013. Settles, who had placed third at conference as a freshman and runner-up as a sophomore, continued the program's dominance at posting the event's top medalist with 14 of the last 17 individual winners coming from Colorado College.
In addition to Settles, six other CC men earned all-SCAC honors, including sophomore Brett Kitazono who finished fourth in 26:06.90, sophomore Devlin Swanson who was seventh in a time of 26:24.20, senior Theo Snowdon was eighth crossing the line in 26:26.30 and sophomore Walt Jones was 11th with a time of 26:43.70. The all-SCAC honors are the second straight for Kitazono, Swanson and Jones. Rounding out the CC all-conference contingent was a pair of first-year runners in Joe Bullock (12th; 26:44.70) and Rabbit Barnes (13th; 26:46.90).
By virtue of his top finish among first-year runners, Bullock was recongized as the league's Newcomer of the Year - the seventh CC runner to earn the award and first since Settles took home the honor in 2020/21.
The team title represents the 10th overall for the Colorado College men's cross country program (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020/21, 2021 and 2022). The Tigers are now just one championship from matching the conference record of 11 which is owned by former member Rhodes College.
In a strange twist of fate, the last time the SCAC cross country meet was held on Southwestern's campus (2007), current CC head coach Alex Nichols picked up his last collegiate win with a first place finish in leading the Tigers to the 2007 SCAC title, the school's first conference championship in any sport.
Leading the way for Trinity on Saturday were sophomore Will Salony and senior Ben Whittemore, who posted second and third-place finishes, crossing the line at 25:53.70 and 26:06.40, respectively, to earn All-SCAC recognition. The all-conference honor is the third straight for Whittemore and second for Salony. Junior Diego Flores in fifth place (26:15.10) and sophomore Ryan Tresaugue in 10th place also secured an all-SCAC spots.
Behind a ninth-place finish by sophomore Brian Armjo and a 14th-place effort from sophomore Xander Bailey, the host school Southwestern University finished third in the team standings with 91 total points. It was the first time Southwestern has had two all-conference performers at the same meet since 2018 and the highest finish for the Pirates program since 2012.
The University of St. Thomas finished fourth with a score of 96 as sophomore Jhancarlos Carpio earned all-SCAC honors for the second consecutive year, finishing this year's meet in sixth place with a time of 26:19.80.
Rounding out the team standings, Texas Lutheran University was fifth with 126 points and University of Dallas was sixth in 181 points. Sophomore Carlos Cura led TLU with a 17th place finish (26:55.20) and Nicholas Walz paced the Crusaders with a 57th-place finish (29:34.80).
Neither Schreiner University nor Centenary College had enough runners to score but the Mountaineers were paced by senior Tristan Salinas' 61st-place finish (29:49.80). The Gents were led by first-year Connor Irvin with a 71st-place (32:06.30).
2022 Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team
1. James Settles, Colorado College - 25:23.60
2. Will Salony, Trinity University - 25:53.70
3. Ben Whittemore, Trinity University - 26:06.40
4. Brett Kitazono, Colorado College - 26:06.90
5. Diego Flores, Trinity University - 26:15.10
6. Jhancarlos Carpio, University of St. Thomas - 26:19.80
7. Devlin Swanson, Colorado College - 26:24.20
8. Theo Snowdon, Colorado College - 26:26.30
9. Brian Armijo, Southwestern University - 26:29.50
10. Ryan Tresaugue, Trinity University - 26:38.40
11. Walt Jones, Colorado College - 26:43.70
12. Joe Bullock, Colorado College - 26:44.70
13. Rabbit Barnes, Colorado College - 26:46.90
14. Xander Bailey, Southwestern University - 26:48.10
